Meet the Team

JO

I have been in travel for over 25 years and prior to proudly opening Holidaze in 2005, with my husband, I managed several agencies in the Midlands. Travel is a great passion of mine and I love my job and the industry, finding the right holiday for my customers is so important to me. I appreciate and understand that everybody has different requirements and I will make it my mission to ensure that not only do I get you the best deal but I will also endeavor to get you your dream holiday and make the whole experience of booking your holiday a pleasure from beginning to end.

I have extensive first hand travel experience to various destinations, including Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Spain, Canaries, USA, South Africa, Jamaica, Caribbean, Gambia, Far East, Middle East and cruising. To date Thailand has to be one of my firm favorites, the beaches, the hospitality and the local cuisine is just amazing.! Whilst the beautiful island of Antigua in the Caribbean is very close to my heart, after getting married there in 2010. Another favorite at the top of my list, was a trip along the West Coast of America. Flying into Las Vegas, driving to Los Angeles and stopping en route in Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Carmel, Santa Cruz and finally ending the trip in San Francisco and WOW!!! What an experience it has been. Visiting the sites of Hollywood, Beverley Hills, Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz to name but a few. The list just goes on....

At Holidaze myself and my team pride ourselves in customer service and delivering the best personal experience possible. Also having recently undergone a refurbishment at our office in Kinson, you can now come in sit back, relax and enjoy the comfortable surroundings with a cup of tea or coffee in hand and let us do all of the hard work for you, with many suppliers to choose from we will ensure that we match your requirements and needs to make your holiday a perfect one.

I can't wait to start making recommendations and suggestions to you, so what are you waiting for? I look forward to seeing you very soon...

TRACY

I have worked in the travel industry for over 35 years, and has been part of the Holidaze team since 2012.

My favourite way to travel is by sea, I absolutely love to cruise. Having been on over 50 cruises, with P&O, Celebrity, Cunard, MSC, Costa, Fred Olsen, Holland America Line, Thomson, Royal Caribbean, NCL and most recently, Cruise and Maritime.

I am the cruise specialist at Holidaze and having cruised many times, I am able to give you impartial and independent advise to suit your needs, whilst offering you personal and firsthand knowledge.

At Holidaze, we pride ourselves on excellent customer service, whilst finding you the best deal from our 100’s of suppliers that we deal with. Your holiday is really important to us!

Roz

Hi my name is Roz and I am pleased to join the Holidaze Team. My career in travel spans over 40 years.

I have been privileged to have travelled to every continent, from the Arctic in the North to Antarctica in the South, from the California Coast of America in the west to New Zealand in the in the east. I have witnessed spiritual ceremonies in India, marvelled at the Terracotta Army in China, and climbed Angkor at in Cambodia and paraglided over Queenstown in New Zealand. Flying in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon and also over Victoria Falls was amazing and tracking the Big Five in South Africa was so exciting. Overlooking Machu Picchu for the first time was breathtaking and seeing Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House memorable.

I have toured both East and West Canada, East and West USA. I’ve seen dancers doing the tango in Argentina, snorkelled along the Great Barrier Reef and met Mickey in Florida. I have also visited Italy, Malta, Madeira, Tasmania, Finland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Indochina, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Croatia, Grenada and Barbados. I have cruised along the Alaskan coast, across the Atlantic, around the Mediterranean, the Baltic, the Nile and the Norwegian coast on Hurtigruten, the working ships experiencing both the land of the midnight sun and the northern lights.

I consider customer service to be so important and attention to detail is paramount. I really enjoy tailor making holidays to suit your requirements and I look forward to making your holiday the holiday of a lifetime.

SAM

Hi my name is Sam, at present I am studying a Level 3 Diploma in Travel and Tourism at Bournemouth College. I have a real passion for travel and I am very excited about my new career and learning under the guidance Jo and the team at Holidaze.

I have travelled to many countries in Europe, including France, Italy, Austria Bulgaria and Greece. I lived on the beautiful island of Zakynthos (Zante) for 16 months during which time I worked in a travel shop selling trips around the island to neighbouring island of Kefalonia and mainland Greece.

In 2014 I travelled through Uganda with a Ugandan friend and stayed in my own mud hut in his village. I was the first British tourist to stay in the hut instead of opting for a hotel. I thoroughly enjoyed trying various different daily tasks like collecting water with a baby on my back, grinding maize and ironing with a charcoal iron. I also experienced a variety of the local foods. I also had the opportunity, to visit a local hospital, which certainly makes you appreciate our NHS. To date this has to be the most humbling experience of my life.

I have also backpacked between Sydney and Melbourne and I hope to return and travel further onto New Zealand. I enjoy visiting a country and being able experience the local customs and cuisine.​I do have lots to learn but with my experience of travelling and commitment to learning, I will endeavour to give all of my customers the personal touch and tailor the holiday to their own needs, to ensure a perfect holiday. I look forward to meeting you all.

MELVIN

Melvin I am pleased to have recently joined the Holidaze Team as an independent freelance travel consultant, having had 35 years experience of providing holiday reservations and travel advice to many satisfied clients. I strongly believe in personal service and will be delighted to visit you in the comfort of your own home to discuss your holiday arrangements if it’s more convenient than coming to our office. Way back in 1977 my wife and I journeyed overland from London to Kathmandu, Nepal. A 49 days’ journey by coach passing through Afghanistan, Iran, & India before flying on to Bangkok and Hong Kong. My passion for travel has continued, and it gives me a lot of pleasure inspiring others to visit virtually every destination I have visited over the years.

On a personal basis I have visited a vast variety of worldwide destinations including many European cities and resorts: Australia, Israel, North & Central America and the Far East, as well as taking a variety of cruises. I have enjoyed escorting groups to Israel – The Holy Land and travelled extensively through Poland.

Please contact me so I can share my travel experiences with you and possibly suggest a destination that you had not previously considered. Just to wet your appetite, my more unusual travels have taken me to the lovely Baltic beach resort of Sopot in Poland (which boasts having the longest wooden pier in Europe), Kangaroo Island just off the South Australian coast from Adelaide – ideal for nature lovers – a sleigh ride pulled by huskies across an Alaskan glacier, and recently various ports of call in Vietnam while enjoying a cruise. Nearer to home, London is a firm favourite of mine and an ideal destination for a short cultural, shopping or theatre break. Being a former Londoner myself I will be more than happy to make suggestions to meet your personal requirements.

Oscar

I am the resident Shitzu of Holidaze and I love coming to work every day with my mommy Jo. I love to welcome all of our customers with a friendly greeting and I love being fussed. Now, I would just like to tell you a little bit about myself :

Hobbies: Being pampered, long walks to the pub and socializingBad habits: Going exploring without my mummy. And getting amorous with my basket at inappropriate times!Travelled to: Birmingham, the New Forest and Hengistbury Head but the world is my oysterBucket list destination: I’d like to accompany Paul O’Grady on one of his Indian adventures, take a hot air balloon ride across the Masai Mara and watch the sun set in SantoriniIs there a Mrs. Oscar? No, I like being an only child!

Jo says: “Oscar brings a calm influence to the office and a friendly greeting and smile to all customers and the team. “He definitely attracts customers – they sometimes just come in to see Oscar and have a play, and they will come back on another day to book their holiday.”